32-015 is part one in a series of 1/32 scale decals covering the 361st Fighter Group, the 'Yellow Jackets' by AeroMaster.   AeroMaster have up-scaled these from their three-part coverage of the 361st Fighter Group in 1/48 scale (48-655, 48-656 and 48-657).  Given the 'Part 1' in the title I guess that we will see the other aircraft from these 1/48 scale sheets up-scaled as well. 

This sheet provides markings for three P-51Ds.  The individual aircraft and their markings are as follows: 

'Detroit Miss' P-51-D 44-14164 flown by Lieutenant Urban Drew of the 357^th Fighter Squadron.  A very bright aircraft to say the least, it was in overall natural metal with D-Day markings on the lower fuselage and bottoms of the wings, Black theatre bands around the wings and horizontal stabilisers, Yellow group markings to the nose and spinner, red gun panels, wing and vertical stabilizer tips and canopy frame.   The supplied markings consist: 

• Black E2 squadron codes and individual aircraft letter D.  The underlined D signifies that it is the second aircraft with the code letter D in the squadron.

• Black 414164 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).

• The name Detroit Miss' in white with a thin black outline on a red bomb which itself has a thin black.

• The data block (with the correct serial).

• A scoreboard comprising seven Nazi flags for the red painted canopy.

'Jasper's Joker II' - P-51D 44-14803, flown by Lieutenant Donald F. Vulgamore of the 376^th' Fighter Squadron.  The machine is in natural metal finish with black theatre bands over the wings and the horizontal stabilizers and the 361^st's yellow nose and spinner group marking with the 376^th's yellow rudder and black wing tips.  The supplied markings consist:

• Black squadron E9 codes and individual aircraft code letter V.

• 414803 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).

• The name 'Jasper's Joker' in black and yellow (black where it goes over the yellow nose markings and black where it goes over a black painted panel.

• Nose art in the form of a caricature of a jester's head.

• A data block (with the correct serial).

• A scoreboard consisting of three black swastika on a white circle background for the canopy rail.

• Thin yellow stripes for the propeller (the aircraft wore these inboard of and supplementary to the standard yellow tips)

Betty Lee III' 44-15076 piloted by Second Lieutenant William W. Kemp of the 375^th Fighter Squadron.  This aircraft is in overall natural metal with D-Day markings (not supplied) on the lower fuselage and tops and bottoms of the wings.  It also wears black theatre bands around the horizontal stabilizers and the fin (again not supplied).  The band around the fin is unusual as this was ordered removed from 23 March 1944 as it broke up the outline of the fin and rudder which was one of the identifying features of the P-51) yellow nose and spinner group markings and blue squadron markings to the canopy rail and rudder complete and its markings.  The supplied markings consist: 

• Black E2squadron codes and individual aircraft letter X.

• Black 415076 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).

• The name 'Betty Lee III' in black with a thin red outline.

• The data block (with the correct serial).

• Pilot and ground crew names in black.

The sheet incorporates two sets of national insignia, one being the 'greyed out' ones the 'Detroit Miss' option as well as a single but very complete set of stencil data. 

The decals themselves have been printed in Italy by Cartograf.  Everything is in perfect register and sharply printed.  My standard warning re Cartograf decals applies here - Cartograf decals will work!  Just be patient and apply heaps of settling solution.  The decals and placement sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and shows left-hand side profiles of each option.  The tops and bottoms of the wings are also shown as is a complete guide to stencil data placement which includes the propeller. 

The recommended kit is the Hasegawa one.  Given that Hasegawa has been active in the 1/32 scale range of late and releasing new tools of their earlier releases we can only hope that they will add a new P-51 to their range. 

This is another nice sheet from AeroMaster. 

Recommended. 

Postscript 

If you want to know more about the 361^st Fighter Group, its men and its machines, head over to Little Friends at  http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/361stfg.jsp  It has some great reference shots as well as the histories of some of the aircraft featured in AeroMaster's trilogy of sheets covering the 361^st Fighter Group.

Thanks to AeroMaster / Eagle Strike Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.

Review TextCopyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 03 August, 2004
Last updated 03 August, 2004

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